Keep Smiling

Keep Smiling

Sunday, July 20, 2014

An Abundance Of Zucinni & New Mudroom Curtains


 It was so cool going out to the garden and having an abundance . . .
I set this out by the road and a lady with a van full of kids came by.
They stopped and took them all.
She said that they loved zucinni :)

I stuffed one for dinner .
(before going into the oven)
And coming out of the oven :)

I also baked an Apricot Up-Side-Down cake.
I'm loving living off the land :)

I've been making curtains for the mudroom
and got them done and hung Saturday.
Photos of the mudroom after painting and hanging photos.

This is the door going into the kitchen.
Look above it at our vintage doorbell.
I love this old bell
&
it sounds so cool :)

 My pantry is at the end of the room by the kitchen door. 

 I cut the fabric for these curtains before we had the keys to the house.
One day when we met with the realtor,
I measured the windows.

Then everything started happening and I packed up my sewing machine.
So, these curtains were on standby :)

Saturday afternoon . . .
I finally got them finished.

I really like how they turned out.

 What do you think?


A mixture of gingham, polka dot, calico and rick rack. 



This little duck belonged to Steve's Grandma.
I set it on the dryer 
to hold all the change that I find in the laundry.
I feel like it found the perfect home here.



We have installed a new backdoor,
But we still need to get the trim finished.



Also the hot water heater is the first thing you see when you come in the backdoor.
I'm still looking for the perfect solution to make a pretty cover-up for it. 
Maybe some old doors :) 


Sunday morning muffins.
I made these with zucinni, apricots  & coconut.
Yum!

Here's wishing you a wonderful week.
Please be kind and leave a comment.
I love hearing from you and getting to know all of my blogging sisters better :)

Keep Smiling,
 Connie :)

78 comments:

  1. How kind of you to share what you've grown off your land. Your zucinni looks delicious, I could almost smell it :) Your new home is certainly transformed.
    The curtains are so lovely and bright. Thanks for showing us your progress.
    Ali xx

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    1. Hi Ali, and thank you for stopping by to visit. I am delighted that you like my new curtains. They were a lot of fun to make.

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  2. Gorgeous curtains Connie, and I love the décor in the mudroom, especially the photo arrangement. Very jealous of your huge toploader Maytag washer and dryer! Laundry rooms certainly aren't usual here in the UK, but they should be!!

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    1. Good Morning! My washer and dryer are over thirteen years old and I have never had a problem with them (knock on wood). I guess it's true what they say about Maytags . . . we are very happy with them. I am happy that you like my laundry room. This house is laid out so that the backdoor is where everyone come into the house, so it's nice to make it pretty :)

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  3. Ok.
    Seriously, cutest curtains ...ever!!
    You inspire me.. now, I want to make some changes to my curtains!!
    Everything is looking so good!!

    Yay for sharing your bumper crop of squash. You are a blessing to others.

    Hope that this week is great!

    K.

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    1. Good Morning Kerin, Cutest Ever! You have made my day . . . Thank you!

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  4. Love that mud room and your curtains are so cute!!! Makes me want to pull out some old material and make some curtains. I wrote down your saying on the wall...I should turn that into a card. Maybe first I will stick it in JP's bible....he worries a lot!!! Oh gosh, zuchinni...that dish looks really good. I have tried growing it but there seems to not be enough bees in our neck of the woods, so I don't get a lot of zuc. Living off the land...that is awesome just like the pioneer people did. You remind me of them.

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    1. Hi Louise, thanks for the delightful and fun comment . . . I am enjoying this new country life and hope to do much more "living off the land" in the future :)

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  5. The new curtains are a perfect fit for your mudroom. So cheery and welcoming! That's one big box of zucchini - glad you could help someone out. Your new life in the country is lots of work, but delicious and fun, too.

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    1. Good Morning Lorine, I am sitting here with my morning coffee reading these sweet and kind-hearted comments from my blogging sisters and feeling totally blessed. I am happy that you like by new curtains; they are cheery, like you said. I know that they make me smile, so hopefully they with do the same to others who enter our little home :)

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  6. I love your curtains. They turned out great and they are so happy looking.
    That stuffed zucchini looks delicious. What did you put in it?

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    1. Good Morning Ann, Well, I just used what I had on hand. I toasted some bread, a mixture of sour dough, Dave's Power seed and a bagel . . . because that is what I had in the refrigerator. Then I sauteed some onion, and celery . . . threw in some fresh basil and water (because I didn't have any chicken broth) and added my broken up bread (Oh, and salt and pepper) . Stuffed the zucinni and then added mozzarella and thinly sliced tomatoes. I baked mine at 400 for about a half hour. We like our zucinni a little on the al-dente side. It was very tasty and we will defiantly make it again.

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  7. Yummy, yummy, yummy .... one piece of each for me please :) Love your sewings.

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  8. Thought I'd stop by and see what you've been up to. I LOVE the curtains! All the colors I love. So bright and cheery. And girl, you need to post some of those recipes. YUM! Someone asked us the other day if we wanted some zucchini and I admitted that I don't know what to do with it. I mean really....why do Americans grow so much zuke. What do we do with it all?

    Cindy Bee

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    1. Oh Sweet, Sweet Cindy, there are so many things to do with it. I didn't have a recipe for any of these. Come back and read the comment before yours for how I made the stuffed zucchini ( thank you ... I really need to spell it right, LOL). As for the upside-down cake I just melted butter and brown sugar until the bottom of my pan was covered (I used an iron skillet) arranged sliced apricots and covered it with a small Jiffy yellow cake mix. You do need to bake it about ten minutes longer than a regular cake. The muffins where a basic recipe, only I added less milk and threw in a couple chopped apricots and a big handful of shredded zucchini. Before pulling them in the oven I mixed butter, brown sugar and coconut together and pull a big spoonful on top of each muffin :) Wow, I hope you really wanted all this information, LOL.
      Now, let me tell you about our newest treat. We made fried zucchini blossoms and they are amazing. I might do a tutorial next time I make them, because they are out of this world delicious. I stuffed mine with mozzarella and black forest ham.
      It is so good to hear from you. I think of you often . . . my little Indiana Bee Keeper :)
      Look up zucchini recipes on line . . . there are so many wonderful and versatile ways to cook with it :)

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  9. Your little mudroom is just adorable. I have been wanting to do something with ours and have some fabric picked for curtains too!
    Since getting the new shed-- we're slowing cleaning it out. I got it cleaned out about 4 years ago...but you know, we live here so...
    I like the colors in your room and the pictures on the collage wall. I hope you don't mind, but I have to copy that little saying on your chalk board and send it to my daughter. She's having a tough day, week, ...life right now. I think it will give her encouragement.
    everything looks great! keep up the good work.
    Pat

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    1. Good Morning Pat, I would be delighted if that verse were to bring encouragement to your daughter. If we can not give each other positive reinforcement, what good are we :) I'm happy that you like my curtains, I am delighted on how they turned out . . . one of my favorite projects, so far. Have a wonderful week . . . I'm off for a mammogram this morning . . . I haven't had one for a while and my doctor pinned me down :)

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  10. Love your curtains...so cute, bright and cheerful!!
    ~Cindy

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    1. Hi Cindy, I am delighted that you like them.

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  11. Your curtains are super cute and perfect for your space. Love the fabric mix. Life in the country is sweet especially this time of year.

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    1. Good Morning Patrica, I had a fun time making these curtains and I think that they will bring me years of cheerful laundry days :)
      We are truly enjoying our new country life . . . thanks so much for stopping by to visit.

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  12. Hi Connie, Wow, this is a delish and fun filled post!! Those muffins look scrumptious as well as the zuchinni dinner! You are living off the land...I know you are loving it! Your mud room curtains are toooo sweet! I love the bright, cheery colors and design. I'm sure it's such a joy to go in that pretty room. That vintage doorbell is something I would enjoy and love to have....it's in the sweetest spot! I think everything you've done is so precious to your new cottage in the country! I miss not getting to garden this year but I plan on something next year...Lord willing! Connie, don't you just love the simple life? I do! God Bless us all! Roxie

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    1. Good Morning Roxie, we are loving the simple life. Last night we called our neighbors up and ask them if they wanted to come over and sit on the porch with us and watch the farmer across the road bailing his hay. They bailed into the night and the air was sweet with hay. It was such a refreshing alternative to sitting in the house watching the TV :) We are loving this new way of living. I've been getting up early to work in the garden and beat the heat. There is more work than we had on our little suburbia lot, but it's wonderful in so very many ways :)

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  13. Hello Connie, so nice to meet you :) Thank you for your wonderful comments on my blog. I look forward to following you on your creative, joyous journey!

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    1. Good Morning Rosemary, I am so excited to see you here. Each time I get a new follower my little heart skips a beat . . . Blogging has opened up a gateway to many wonderful friendships. I love gleaning ideas from creative people and sharing whatever ideas that I come up with. Blogging has made my life richer.
      Have a lovely week and thank you again for following :)

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  14. Your love and enthusiasm for your home really shines through. When I come to lunch I would love the stuffed courgettes (as we call them!) and the apricot cake please (is it rude to dictate what you want from your hostess!). The curtains are amazing , in fact I would feel very 'at home' in your place xxxx

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    1. Dear Sweet Fran, That is the best compliment . . . when someone feels at home in my home . . . I feel very satisfied and relaxed.
      Jump that pond and I'll cut you a piece of cake . . .wouldn't that be fun . . . we could talk all afternoon :)

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  15. Connie those curtains are so beautiful, you are very clever. I love growing things in the garden that I can eat. Have you got chickens??

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    1. Hi Sue, thank you for the sweet comment . . . I am so happy that you like my curtains. No chickens, just a dog :)

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  16. wow, free zuchhini! I would definetly have one:)

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    1. I wish you were here, because I'm giving them away as fast as I can pick them :) I had a couple stop and pick apricots today and I sent them home with zucchini, too. It is great having enough produce to can, freeze and give away :)

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  17. Your home is looking beautiful. I love your curtains, the suit the room perfectly. Home grown produce is wonderful and having an abundance to share is even better. I'm so enjoying the progress you are making with your renovations.
    Anne xx

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    1. Hello Anne, it is wonderful having you stop in and visit, I enjoy getting to know you better.
      I am loving my new life of living in the country. It's a lot of work, but so worth it :)

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  18. I love your curtains, Connie!
    Your budget mudroom turned out so nicely..

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    1. Thank you . . . I'm having a great time fixing it up . . . thanks for following my blog, too. I truly appreciate it :)

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  19. Hi Connie..Oh wowsers, I'd love some of that zucchini! Love all of your decor! You are a good cook and baker and an excellent decorator, too! Wowsers. Thanks so much for stopping by. Susan

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    1. Hi Susan . . . what a special visit, thanks for stopping by. I am delighted that you like my post . . . wish you lived close enough to drop by and take home some zucchini and apricots.

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  20. What cute and cheery curtains! And I hope you saved me a piece of that apricot upsidedown cake. That sounds so delicious!!

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    1. Thanks for the compliments, but sorry, that upside-down cake disappeared pretty fast, LOL

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  21. What cute and cheery curtains! And I hope you saved me a piece of that apricot upsidedown cake. That sounds so delicious!!

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  22. Your curtains look great! Love all the colors. Your door bell is very cool. Maybe a couple wood shutters like a screen around the heater? You two are doing a wonderful remodel.Doesn't it feel good to give food away? I did that with my garden too last year.

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    1. Hi Nancy, I like your idea of shutters . . . I'm just going to have to see what I can find. I would just like to have that hot-water heater camouflaged someway or another :) Yes, it feels wonderful being able to give food away . . . I love it! Happy that you like my curtains :)

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  23. I LOVED the curtains! They are adorable! You've been a busy lady! :-)

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    1. Thank you so much . . . they make me smile every-time I walk into the mudroom :)

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  24. So bright and cheerful! I would make another set and put them up to hide the hot water heater.

    Kathy M.

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  25. I am hoping we have a glut again this year - we mostly call them courgettes, but being more of an Italia-phile than a franco-phile I tend to cal them zucchini to myself! We had LOADS of them last summer - everyone did, it seems. We have fewer plants this year but already cropping more than I need for the table. Will start thinking laterally about them soon - your muffin looks WONDERFUL! And so healthy! Lxxx

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    1. Hi Lynne, Oh, gardening is so much fun . . . and I love being able to give food away. I'm a muffin gal . . . I love to bake them, and I LOVE to eat them, too :)

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  26. First of all, you must share your stuffed zucchini recipe with me! It looks so delicious and my zucchini is just now growing, so I'll need recipes. My email address is melriley62@gmail.com if you'd be so kind to email the recipe. Secondly, I love the wall in your mudroom. The color of the wall is beautiful and I love how you have all the framed photographs there. And lastly...be still my heart on those curtains! If you lived close to me, I'd be commissioning you to make curtains for my windows!

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    1. Melanie, you are so sweet! Thank you for all the compliments, you are going to give me a big head :) I did not have a recipe for the zucchini, but I will email you and tell you want I did. So, watch your email . . . it may not be until tomorrow evening. It's late and I'm off to bed in a minute or two. Our neighbor who is a retired gentleman with a big heart and a love for staying busy . . . is coming over at 7:30 a.m. and he is going to help me with the fence and gate at the front of the house. It will be great to get it done. Steve and I started it, but Steve has been so busy . . . when you work in construction, your summers are all work and no play :)

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  27. I love your home and how it is coming together, I would love to have a huge pantry like that! and the mudroom grey and blue is gorgeous. You cook and sew and decorate.....Girlfriend you do it all! I love the curtains...Hello....I love polka dots...So fun to watch it all come together!

    Carol

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    1. Hi Carol, it's great to see you . . . I am having fun decorating and making this house our home :) We are both so happy to be living in the country and having a place to grow a garden . . . this was a very good move :)

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  28. The muffin looks delish! Love your mudroom too. The curtains are so beautiful, Connie. Anyway, I enjoy reading your posts. They're inspiring :)

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    1. Thank you so very much . . . I love it when I can be an inspiration, because I get so inspired when I blog. This world is so full of creative women and blog-land is a huge treasure packed supply of creativity :)

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  29. Connie you are so creative ... I just love the curtains - they look perfect for the mud room. Congrats on all the yummy "livin off the land" baking... Your home looks beautiful ! Hugs, Karen

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    1. Hello Karen, thank you for your sweet compliments. We are enjoying our garden so much, just tonight I gathered up a bunch of peppers, so tomorrow we will be having stuffed green peppers for dinner. It is so much fun doing my grocery shopping in the backyard, LOL
      Thank you again for stopping by, I love company :)

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  30. Hi Connie! Thanks so much for visiting my blog last night! I love to make new friends there. I hope you'll come by again today and enter my drawing for a free amazon.com gift card in honor of my tenth blogging anniversary! Your home is so cozy and creative and your laundry room is the one of my dreams (I'm trying not be bug-eyed jealous!) :) Loved your free zucchini idea and wow, you even bake! You are an inspiration and I'm so happy to know you. Blessings, Debra

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    1. Hi Debra, thanks so much for the invitation and for your sweet compliments. I'm a little bit in love with my laundry-room, too. At my other house the laundry was in the kitchen . . . very handy and I liked it, but I like this better :)

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  31. Your new curtains are just perfect for your new room! The trim makes them special and just your very own! Enjoy your weekend! Hugs, Diane

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    1. Hi Diane, thank you for stopping by . . . I am delighted that you like my new curtains. They were fun to make and they bring a smile to my face. My idea is to bring this bungalow back into it's vintage years and I think these curtains have a sort of Betty Crocker look about them. Here's wishing you a lovely weekend, too :)

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  32. Connie,

    I am in love with your curtains! They are SO me, the polka dots, the gingham, the calico and the rick rack!! You've been a busy bee, baking up storms in your kitchen and prettying your laundry room! Everything looks so dollhouse adorable!

    Happy weekend, and thanks so much for visiting Poppy View; have missed you!

    Poppy

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    1. Hi Poppy, and thank you for visiting me, too. I love your blog . . . It is the only time at I will ever have a chance to visit Greece and all of it's beauty.

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  33. Adorable curtains! So sweet and homey!

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    1. Hi Holly, thank you so much . . . I appreciate hearing that :)

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  34. Hi Connie, Thanks for visiting my blog Repurposed4life.blogspot.com I enjoyed your comments. I have now added a follow by email on my blog. I hope this will help you to be able to follow me. I'm glad you wanted to. Can't wait to check out all your blogs. Have a great weekend.

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    1. Hello Lyn, great to get a visit from you :)

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  35. I love the curtains Lyn. and love the wash board too.

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  36. I have enjoyed my visit to your blog. So many good ideas. And thanks for stopping by to seeme too.

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    1. Good Morning Beth, welcome . . . I am delighted to see you, thanks for the visit :)

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  37. Your curtains are adorable...love the choice of fabrics. Your "cottage" is so pretty and I am loving everything I see!

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    1. Hello Lesley, I am delighted to see you and thank you so much. You're a sweetie pie :)

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  38. Connie-- that stuffed zuchinni looks amazing-- I need that recipe !! Your renovations are beautiful- if I had a mudroom like yours I would be in heaven:)
    Vicki

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    1. Good Morning Vicki, watch your email . . . I'm sending it to you :)

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  39. Hi Connie, My first comment must have "disappeared into thin air!" ;-) Just wanted to thank you for your recent visit to my site. You and your husband are enjoying the country life with its fun challenges. Your curtains are as cute as can be! Have a great day! Shady Gardener

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    1. Good Morning, you know that happens sometimes. I will hit the publish button and then go to find the comment and not be able to find it anywhere. I don't know if it is Blogger or me. I think that I do the same thing every time . . . but it happens so fast and there is no going back. So, who knows. Thank you so much for stopping by . . . I love reading comments and making new friends :)

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  40. Oh Connie, your blog is making me smile and smile! I just love it. I love your new curtains. I see you have a Brother sewing machine. I got mine in May - my old Pfaff (given to me for my 21st birthday by my parents) died and could not be repaired, and I was devastated. This year I was 61 and it lasted 40 years with only a couple of visits to the repair shop - not bad going! I told Mum (93, living with us) that it was kaput and bless her she said she'd give me a new one for my birthday! So I had a great 61st! I haven't got it up and running yet because I'm working on other projects that need doing, but have so many things in mind for it - not least my new adventures into teabag art!

    We call zuccini courgette here in the UK. I have been given a lot this year and discovered a lovely gratin recipe online, and have made it several times, with lots of parmesan cheese, and topped with pumpkin seeds. Yummy.

    I've simply got to start following you. Your blog is a real find. Thank you, Creative Blog Hop!!!

    Shoshi

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